Clemens yields homer, strikes out 6

RHP Roger Clemens showed pinpoint control and a sharp fastball during his tuneup for the Houston Astros' Class A Lexington affiliate. Playing alongside his son, 3B Koby, he gave up a long home run to Johnny Drennen but otherwise looked like his old self in three innings against the Lake County Captains, a Cleveland Indians affiliate. "I wouldn't expect really any soreness whatsoever," Clemens said. "My arm is great. . . . One step down, two to go." Clemens, who allowed three hits and struck out six, is likely to start Sunday for Class AA Corpus Christi and June 16 for Class AAA Round Rock before returning to the majors June 22 against Minnesota. The game drew an announced attendance of 9,222, and Clemens' No. 22 was written in the basepath behind second base.

Ortiz returns to mound a day early

The Arizona Diamondbacks activated RHP Russ Ortiz from the 15-day disabled list in time to start against the Philadelphia Phillies. To make room on the roster, the Diamondbacks put LHP Terry Mulholland on the DL with an inner-ear infection. Ortiz had been out since May 2 with an injured calf. He originally was slated to pitch today but was moved up when RHP Juan Cruz reported shoulder soreness. Cruz now is set to start today.

Lower back spasms plague Rodriguez

Detroit Tigers C Ivan Rodriguez left a game against the White Sox in Chicago with lower back spasms and is day to day. Rodriguez struck out to end the second inning and caught the bottom half, but he did not come out for the third.

New York Mets LF Cliff Floyd left a game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles because of a sprained left ankle. The injury occurred in the second inning when Floyd was pulling into third base standing up on an RBI double by Jose Valentin. Floyd turned the ankle and went awkwardly into the bag. Mets SS Jose Reyes was scratched because of a sore left wrist. He had X-rays, which showed no break.

The Boston Red Sox recalled RHP Craig Hansen to shore up their overworked bullpen and optioned RHP Jermaine Van Buren to Class AAA Pawtucket. Hansen, Boston's first-round pick last year, was 0-2 with a 2.66 ERA in seven games for Class AAA Pawtucket. The Red Sox are expected to call up LHP Jon Lester to start in Saturday's day-night doubleheader against Texas at Fenway Park.